28. Rukh

Itear through the witchs cabin like a wild beast, shredding furniture and ripping panels from the walls. Annettes life hangs by a thread, and I must find what dark curse is leeching away her soul. Nothing else matters but destroying the vile magic that harms my love.

The witch left traces of her evil everywhere, but whatever artifact or tome that must sustain this affliction remains maddeningly out of sight.

“What is it?” I roar, but the cabin yields no answers save the wreckage of my fury. Exhausted, I fall to my knees amidst the debris. For all my might, I cannot save Annette from this slow demise.

But I cannot give up. She needs me.

I close my eyes, forcing my rage to subside. The primal urge to rend and destroy yet again consumes me, but I can’t find anything amiss. The bedroom offers no clues either. My claws tear through quilts and mattresses in desperation. Feathers choke the air as I demolish anything that might conceal the insidious curse.

Moving room to room, the last vestiges of reason slip away, giving way to the ferocity of a cornered beast. By the time Ive laid waste to every room, a fog of wood dust and debris swirls around my crouched form.

In my rage, I strike a shelf, smashing jars and vials. Glass pierces my fist, but I do not feel it. I watch black demon blood drip steadily as my heart wrenches inside my chest.

Annette pays the price while I flail uselessly in the wreckage this witch left behind. She believed I could protect her, could save her. But all my gifts are worthless in the face of this insidious curse.

I collapse to my knees, the rage extinguished, leaving only anguish and regret. My claws could slay legions, but cannot mend a wounded heart or lift this plague upon her spirit. For all my might, I cannot save the one soul that matters most.

In despair, I slam my fists down and the old floorboards splinter and cave in. I claw through the rubble, ripping up rotted planks until a dark gap is revealed beneath the floor. A hidden room!

I drop down into the dusty space, eyes quickly adjusting to the gloom. Strange sigils cover the walls, remnants of the witch’s vile enchantments. In the center sits an ancient wooden box, bound in flesh and studded with teeth and nails. A malevolent energy pulsates from it.

I seize the gruesome box, fresh black blood smearing the grotesque surface. The evil aura bites at my skin, but I refuse to let go.

I present the box to the daylight, its malignant power weakened by the sun. Annette still clings to life, though barely.

But now, the source of her demise is in my hands.

I tighten my grip, feeling the box rattle. Soon I will tear it apart and break its hold on Annette forever. But shattering it alone may not be enough to restore her...

No sacrifice is too great to save her life. I know what must be done. Hold on, my love, I whisper. Im coming.

I squeeze with all my demonic might, claws piercing the boxs gruesome exterior. An unholy screeching splits the air as I feel the curse thrash in protest.

The box trembles in my grip, malignant energy pulsing wildly.

With a ferocious roar, I summon every ounce of power and rip the foul thing asunder. An explosion of dark magic buffets me as corrupted souls trapped within wail in anguish. The cabin shakes on its foundations.

I shield my face as vile spirits swirl past, released by the boxs destruction. Their cursed prison lies in splinters on the floor, but I can still sense the evil magic burrowing into Annettes soul, anchored there.

Destroying the source weakened but did not fully lift the curse. I can feel that Annettes life force flickers even closer to oblivion. I race back to her side, knowing I have only one option left to keep her from deaths grip. Or at least, if she goes over the edge, she’ll take me with her.

As her remaining life force sputters, I take her delicate hand in mine. Forgive what I must do, my love, I whisper. I open my spirit and begin transferring my immortal demon essence to her fragile mortal soul, binding us as one before the abyss can claim her.

When we share one soul, one essence, either both of us will live or neither. If her flame goes out, so will mine. But I’m hoping rather than death, I can give her the strength she needs to overcome this.

Our merged life force glows between us, the curse seething but unable to consume us both. Annettes eyes flutter open once more.

I open my spirit to Annettes fading mortal essence. Our life forces collide in a burst of crimson and violet, spinning into a new chaotic orb of being.

Reality seems to warp around us. We stand upon an endless shimmering plane, the material world melted away. Our bodies blur, flesh and spirit combining.

Annettes eyes flutter open, their emerald irises now flecked with molten gold, our essences irrevocably blended. We stand together, diminished mortality reforged by an immortal union.

My love, I whisper. “I’m so sorry. I claimed you without your approval, and I hope you can forgive me for that. But I saw no other way.”

I enfold her fragile yet undying form in a fierce embrace. By relinquishing our previous separate selves, we are now one being in two bodies, sharing a life force. She has my strength, while I have her light. Neither of us is what we were before, but whatever makes me immune to the witches’ curse now should heal her, too.

Her lifeblood flows through my veins, our hearts beating in resonant harmony, souls merged in primordial covenant. I hold Annette close, reminding myself this is no dream that will fade. Her being flows through mine, brilliant and undimmed.

I lift Annettes chin, gently kissing the tears of wonder from her golden-flecked eyes before pressing my lips to hers.

Our first true kiss as souls reborn, sealing the promise of eternity.